The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-02-15
A CHOIR SINGER
Who Turned Out to Be a Danger
Gus Man.

There are two sides to every queS-
ton. as the best of reasons demon
strates; but Marie Prot, try as she
might, could find only one side TO the
question of her engagement to Sydney
Worth: and that, unfortunately for the
lover, was the negative side. Sydney,
on his part, being man was logical
enough to take in all the bearings of
the ease, and yet heroic enough to await
Marie's decision with a courage worthy
of cause more sublime than the yea
or nay of brown-eyed girl. In this
trembling balance, however, was hung
his hope of ali earthly happiness, while
he smoked his cigar and talked and
walked about the world as usual.
Take a week, only week, for calm
consideration, he had begged her, and
then proceeded TO enhance her calm
ness by daily letters of urgent pleading.
His eagernesS harasSed and worried
Marie into a state almost of resent
ment and took from her much of the
responsibility of her final action. 1t
gave her something to fight against and
armed her with necessary firmnesS.
Whereas, if he had thrown himself COM
pletely and helplessly on her mercy
she would have found it dOublv hard TO
wiring his heart by her decided refusal:
but she would have wrung it ali the
same.
When her letter came at last poor
Sydney kissed the dagger before he re-
ceived its stab-that is, he kissed her
handwriting, and then very likely
few moments later dropped a tear or
two in the same spot. But the letter
was folded and put away, as such let
tiers and such poor, broken hopes are
being folded and put away all over the
world to-day and every day. and sgd
ney went about his business astonished
and miserable at the heavy weight of
his disappointment. His life staggered
under il but did not stop: and he
vaguely felt, through all his suffering.
that time would bring him again the
old firm step and lightsome strength.
but never the old gayety and freshness
of heart. Loves rose had grown for
him and burst into bloom, and its petals
were scattered-no power could make
il again a perfect flower. All the rest
of the things in the world remained,
certainly, but they seemed TO have
very little use or value for him now,
and he wondered how the DAYS
and years could 90 on under the inn
petus OF his lost hope and aspiration.
But the days AMI years did 60 on: sgd
new sat at his desk and made money
and Marie sang in her church and gave
music lessons, losing her youthful
beauty somewhat. but gaining always
i'm grace and attractiyeness. She and
Sydney met occasionally as friends and
his ewes still told the same old story
that was now forbidden of all other
expression. As for Miss Prot. she
met the usual experience that falls to
the lot of talented and gracious woman.
She had hosts of male friends, quite an
array of admirers. and ALWAYS one or
two ardent lovers who were much i'm
the same ease as Sydney hinSclf-for
it would seem even TO the most inter
ested observers that Miss Pirot's being.
musical and harmonious as ii was. had
never yet responded TO the master
chord of all-the chord of love,
But at last, when the Keynote of
Marie>s destiny was struck and its
flood of melody came pouring into her
life like an overwhelming tide, neither
The alto on one side OF her nor the bass
on the other. nor even the organist.
Lucy Crumm. who was her bosom
friend, guessed that any thing had
happened.
1t came about in this very common
place way: Old Brande. the regular
tenor, was absent, for the first time i'm
seven years, from the Tuesday night
rehearsal. The choir had assembled
and stood about, waiting and wonder
ing, and comforting upon Mr.. Brande
position apart from all other tenors on
record by their genuine surprise at his
delinquency, when there came sudden
~ up the choir staircase tall and
slim young man. very fair, with plenty
of flowing blonde hair that hung in
sfrIdent fashion IN his broad white